I am missing something, or we are saying the same thing in different words.
I do not understand why university thinks it can raise prices on select degrees when their competition is not raising prices on the same degrees.
Spreading the cost out among the greatest number of students is what they are doing now. Correct? Same price per credit hour for everyone.
I don't understand how the university would change that and succeed if their competition did not do the same. Isn't that what you were voting against?
“I do not understand why university thinks it can raise prices on select degrees when their competition is not raising prices on the same degrees.”
Think of it like gas prices. Gas is priced competitively to get folks in the door to buy things inside which have a significant markup. STEM degrees generate significant income for the university in terms of endowments, government grants, etc.
By spreading the cost out among all students, it means that the cost of STEM degrees for the university, all else being considered equal - is lower than it is for competing institutions.
Thus - the competition for STEM students, (which generate additional revenue), means that the university has a competitive advantage.
You’re right that it means the cost for humanities degrees will be higher for this institution than others - but who takes humanity degrees? A disproportionate number of women. What are women looking for when they go to school? A university with a significant number of men. It’s been shown that enrollment drops off drastically once the proportion reaches 2/3rds women.